Os “parques de papel” e o papel social dos parques

Abstract

The parks are very relevant to environment protection. Focusing only on this primary objective, the conservation approach becomes pragmatic, thus jeopardizing the park’s social insertion, by the degradation of its image. A philosophical core of searching untouchable paradises is related. The image of parks is an important component of conservation efforts and the changes on this social perception a long the time should be monitored and managed. Thus, they can be perceived under the focus of different looks, influenced by multiple scales and values, although the diverse space identities raise the complexity of parks administration. So, the knowledge about the protected areas social representations is an important conservation component. The Environmental Education connects the functions generally ascribed to parks, so it is basic condition, in order to people acquire a critical position when facing the relationship between these and the society. Nevertheless, it can not be restricted to protected area boundaries. It should be thought under different objectives, so it is an important tool to achieve the social insertion of parks. The Serra da Tiririca State Park was created in 1991. But its last boundaries were consolidated only in 2007. During this period, the real state speculation caused the Park’s reduction in relation to the former proposed area. The knowledge of the region history and the process of the Park institutionalization can contribute to its management. The objective of this study is describe the PESET visitors and residents perceptions, attitudes, indicators and arguments to conservation seeking guidelines that contribute to Park management. The methodological basis is qualitative research realized through interviews and content analyses. The Serra da Tiririca State Park is inserted in a region with rich environmental history, which created social passives that should be managed when the park was created. This positive image is related to political mobilization to its creation and society vigilance. On the negative view, administrative problems are pointed out and related to IEF. The State administration should be more present with dense, lasting and democratic policy to PESET conservation. The Park is viewed as a paper park and a conflicts stage related to real state speculation, land situation and politics. It is a Park that pursues a great local value as a leisure area and a historic register. Nevertheless, people do not identify its biological importance. The management of its image must amplify its positive aspects. Residents and visitors have an administrative abandonment perception and want its public use structure. Few of them recognize the parks ecological relevance, besides the social profile the demanded for parks creation, has changed. So it is urgent the constitution of its management plan, as well environment education activities to this perceptions administrations. There is a lack on evaluation indicators to local social insertion degree of parks. The proposed indicators refer to its symbolic, institutional and territorial spheres. The park shows a good level on residents and visitors relationship evaluation, but some indicators should be improved.